Stalin Asks Non-BJP States To Pass Resolution Seeking Time Frame For Governors To Clear Bills

The development comes days after the Tamil Nadu Assembly adopted a resolution urging the Centre to fix a time frame for Governors to approve bills.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin

Source : PTI

Amid a rise in conflicts between Governors and non-BJP states,  Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has written to Opposition-ruled states to pass a resolution urging the Centre and President to fix a time limit for  Governors to approve Bills passed by respective assemblies.

In his letter to non-BJP states, Stalin said democracy in India today "stands at crossroads" and "increasingly we are witnessing the fading away of the spirit of cooperative federalism from the governance of the nation". 

"...Some Governors today are indefinitely holding various Bills that have been duly passed by state legislatures and sent for approval which brings the respective state administrations to a standstill in such areas," the letter said.

The letter by Stalin comes days after the Tamil Nadu Assembly adopted a resolution urging the Centre to fix a time frame for Governors to approve bills. The move is likely to further strain ties between the Stalin-led government and Governor RN Ravi.

"I am sure that you will...extend your support in this regard to uphold the sovereignty and self-respect of the state governments and the legislatures by passing a similar resolution in your state Assembly," the Tamil Nadu CM further said in his letter.

READ | After Telangana Govt Moves Supreme Court, Governor Clears Three Out Of 10 Pending Bills

Recently, the tussle between Governors and governments of two states reached the Supreme Court.

The Telangana government had filed a writ petition in March accusing the Governor of creating a "constitutional impasse" by refusing to act on several Bills passed by the state legislature. The government said several key bills, including one passed by the Assembly in September 2022, was pending before the Governor.

However, ahead of the hearing of the plea this week, Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan passed three legislations but sent back two others to the state government.

The Supreme Court also came down heavily on the Punjab Governor while hearing a case where Banwarilal Purohit did not summon the Assembly after the Cabinet's recommendation.

The Supreme Court said the Punjab Governor had no discretion to delay the summoning of the state Assembly in contravention of advice of the Council of Ministers headed by the Chief Minister.